May rejects pivot towards Brexit customs union compromise

British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to the press after a meeting with the President of the European Council Donald Tusk at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium, 7 February 2019. [Stephanie Lecocq/EPA/EFE]

British Prime Minister Theresa May has rejected the idea of targeting a customs union with the European Union, pouring cold water on hopes from some that she could shift her Brexit policy to win over the opposition Labour Party.

Britain is due to leave the EU on 29 March but has yet to find a deal which is acceptable to both Brussels and lawmakers at home, raising the prospect of a disorderly exit that could damage the world’s fifth largest economy.

Brexit has divided Britain at every level from voters to cabinet, and raised fears internationally that it will weaken the West. Brexit supporters hail it as casting off a failing German-led project.

Last week, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn set out the conditions under which he would instruct his party to support an exit deal in parliament. Foremost was a demand that May seek a “permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union”.

The EU has urged May to grasp Labour’s compromise offer rather than press ahead with her preferred option of getting her own divided party onside by renegotiating a clause in the exit agreement relating to the Northern Irish border.

A top EU official warned Monday (4 February) that the prospect of Britain crashing out of the bloc next month looks more likely than ever, as Prime Minister Theresa May sought to reassure foreign investors worried about a chaotic Brexit.

But May’s office published her reply to Corbyn late on Sunday (10 February), showing little appetite for a U-turn which would risk splitting her fractious party by ruling out the scope for Britain to strike its own trade deals around the world.

“I am not clear why you believe it would be preferable to seek a say in future EU trade deals rather than the ability to strike our own deal?” May wrote in a three-page letter.

May and her government have repeatedly said membership of a customs union would prevent it having an independent trade policy – something they have promoted as one of the main economic benefits of leaving the EU.

Although May welcomed the prospect of future talks with Corbyn to try and find a compromise, the letter gave no ground on their central point of disagreement.

That leaves May battling to persuade a reluctant EU to look again at the Irish backstop – a fallback policy designed to prevent the resurrection of a hard border in Ireland if talks to find a long-term trade arrangement fail.

EU leaders stuck to their guns on Wednesday (30 January), insisting that the Brexit Withdrawal agreement rejected by UK MPs would not be renegotiated.

Brexit minister Stephen Barclay will meet EU negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday ahead of a crunch moment in parliament on Thursday, when lawmakers will try to force May to change course or give up control of the exit process.

May will promise lawmakers a second opportunity to influence the Brexit talks later in the month in a bid to stave off any rebellion from within her own party by those who fear Britain could end up leaving without a deal.

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The impression given is that is pandering to the Brexiteers in her party in order to keep the party together and at the same time unwilling to compromise. She fears being thrown out if she makes any compromise with Labour. She fears having to call a general election. Party in power seems to be the bottom-line for her and for this needs the support of the Brexiteers. Should the future of the UK be caught up in party politics? Looks like it is going to be a hard Brexit.

Let the UK experience what it is like out of the EU. See whether the UK will prosper better as promised by the Brexiteers and allow the EU to go its own way free from all the obstacles that the UK will or could put towards an ever closer union.

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A contrarian view: To avoid a potential public revolt, and to solve the current chaos and deadlock, Mrs May appears to be tactfully manoeuvring towards a 2nd referendum with the choice: 1) a no-deal Brexit, and 2) a Bremain, knowing that the majority of the UK people is moving towards Bremain.

Based on:
A) 700.000 old Brits (mainly Brexiteers) die every year and 700.000 young Brits (mainly Bremainers) get voting rights.
B) Young people were apathetic regarding voting in 2016 but not anymore.
C) At the 1st referendum 2 ½ years ago, the difference between Brexiteers and Bremainers was only 1.3 mln.

The EU is in favour of Bremain and has already indicated their willingness to extend article 50 in such case. Also remember that the majority of MPs and Ministers were for Bremain in 2016.

Can you imagine Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson as figureheads of the metamorphosis from “Great-Britain” to “Little-England”?
(without N. Ir + Scotland)?